I can't sleep; I never can on Christmas Eve. However, tonight it's good. It gives me a chance to be quiet, and to think, and to realise the true message of Christmas.
Firstly, I'm still not sure about religion. Which for me is fine. It's okay to be unsure, and that's totally personal to me. I try to be really really open-minded when it comes to religion, so I'm going to try my utmost not to offend anyone!
For me, there are three ways of looking at Christmas, though one person can hold a mixture of these views.
Number one- taking the Nativity story literally. As in, Jesus was born and that's why we celebrate.
A second view- that maybe the Nativity was real, maybe it wasn't, but Christmas is a time to celebrate humanity and virtues and everything.
Finally, there's the view of seeing Christmas as just another celebration, with no real meaning etc.
If you're reading this and thinking I've not included you, as I said, there's going to be people with mixed or different views- this is just some basic Duck Philosophy.
Personally, I'd class myself as group two with some group one. I'm undecided on whether I take the Bible/teachings literally, but (for the majority) I take the lessons, and try to follow those. Which, really, bring me to the point of this post.
Regardless of whether you believe in Jesus or God; regardless of what religion you follow, or what your beliefs are. Christmas has a fairly simple message, and if you don't remember that, you don't really remember Christmas.
It's a time of peace. A time of love, of giving, of harmony. A time to think of others, a time to be thankful. Christmas is a time when miracles can occur- soldiers can lay down their weapons, and play football together. Families can eat, drink and- most importantly- be merry, but be merry together. Peace, love, harmony... That's what Christmas really is.
People get so hyped up now about what they're getting for Christmas, it feels like the real message is being forgotten. *Why* do we give gifts? Well, to show and share our love. It's not about who's got the latest phone or how much your presents cost. It's about the love that goes into it all.
It's also a time to think of others- today I've done a lot of thinking about people who have lost loved ones, or soldiers, or those alone. If I could do anything to help them, I would. At this stage in religion, I tend not to pray- but I will hold onto hope for them. That, for me, is the biggest thing I can do.
I also hope that, one day, Christmas feeling will carry on all year round- not the presents or the food, great as they are. Just the humanity that comes into play. If we can do it once, we can keep doing it.
So, tomorrow, please please have a good day. But please also remember the true message of Christmas, no matter what your beliefs are, or how deep you go into it. Just remember.
Merry Christmas. I love you.
Firstly, I'm still not sure about religion. Which for me is fine. It's okay to be unsure, and that's totally personal to me. I try to be really really open-minded when it comes to religion, so I'm going to try my utmost not to offend anyone!
For me, there are three ways of looking at Christmas, though one person can hold a mixture of these views.
Number one- taking the Nativity story literally. As in, Jesus was born and that's why we celebrate.
A second view- that maybe the Nativity was real, maybe it wasn't, but Christmas is a time to celebrate humanity and virtues and everything.
Finally, there's the view of seeing Christmas as just another celebration, with no real meaning etc.
If you're reading this and thinking I've not included you, as I said, there's going to be people with mixed or different views- this is just some basic Duck Philosophy.
Personally, I'd class myself as group two with some group one. I'm undecided on whether I take the Bible/teachings literally, but (for the majority) I take the lessons, and try to follow those. Which, really, bring me to the point of this post.
Regardless of whether you believe in Jesus or God; regardless of what religion you follow, or what your beliefs are. Christmas has a fairly simple message, and if you don't remember that, you don't really remember Christmas.
It's a time of peace. A time of love, of giving, of harmony. A time to think of others, a time to be thankful. Christmas is a time when miracles can occur- soldiers can lay down their weapons, and play football together. Families can eat, drink and- most importantly- be merry, but be merry together. Peace, love, harmony... That's what Christmas really is.
People get so hyped up now about what they're getting for Christmas, it feels like the real message is being forgotten. *Why* do we give gifts? Well, to show and share our love. It's not about who's got the latest phone or how much your presents cost. It's about the love that goes into it all.
It's also a time to think of others- today I've done a lot of thinking about people who have lost loved ones, or soldiers, or those alone. If I could do anything to help them, I would. At this stage in religion, I tend not to pray- but I will hold onto hope for them. That, for me, is the biggest thing I can do.
I also hope that, one day, Christmas feeling will carry on all year round- not the presents or the food, great as they are. Just the humanity that comes into play. If we can do it once, we can keep doing it.
So, tomorrow, please please have a good day. But please also remember the true message of Christmas, no matter what your beliefs are, or how deep you go into it. Just remember.
Merry Christmas. I love you.